Orange military group marks Flag Day with ceremony

By Dave Ryan

Published 6:29 pm, Friday, June 14, 2013

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 1of/21

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 21

John Ochs stands a bit longer after the ceremony ended watching the flags burn. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

John Ochs stands a bit longer after the ceremony ended watching the flags burn. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 2 of 21

Acting as Sergeant-at-Arms, Connie Velasquez, left, reads her words as she presents the flag to be burned to Post Commander John Moore, right, who also agrees it needs to be retired. David Lewis, middle, is standing next to her as Gayle Walker, middle, reads more from the program. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Acting as Sergeant-at-Arms, Connie Velasquez, left, reads her words as she presents the flag to be burned to Post Commander John Moore, right, who also agrees it needs to be retired. David Lewis, middle, is ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 3 of 21

John Ochs stands a bit longer after the ceremony ended watching the flags burn. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

John Ochs stands a bit longer after the ceremony ended watching the flags burn. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 4 of 21

Post 49 Commanding Officer John Moore, right, reads a prayer during the POW-MIA service. The table set up before him is part of the service for the men who have not yet come home from battles and conflicts. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Post 49 Commanding Officer John Moore, right, reads a prayer during the POW-MIA service. The table set up before him is part of the service for the men who have not yet come home from battles and conflicts. The ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 5 of 21

Post 49 Commanding Officer John Moore, right, grabs some paperwork to head out to the flag service.the POW-MIA service. This table set up before him was part of the service for the men who have not yet come home from battles and conflicts. Each item has a significance to the missing men such as the overturned drinking glass that the men will not toast their fellow soldiers with. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Post 49 Commanding Officer John Moore, right, grabs some paperwork to head out to the flag service.the POW-MIA service. This table set up before him was part of the service for the men who have not yet come ... more

Image 6 of 21

Post 49 Commanding Officer John Moore, right, grabs some paperwork to head out to the flag service.the POW-MIA service. This table set up before him was part of the service for the men who have not yet come home from battles and conflicts. Each item has a significance to the missing men such as the overturned drinking glass that the men will not toast their fellow soldiers with, or the chair that they have yet to sit back on at home. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Post 49 Commanding Officer John Moore, right, grabs some paperwork to head out to the flag service.the POW-MIA service. This table set up before him was part of the service for the men who have not yet come ... more

Image 7 of 21

Acting as Sergeant-at-Arms, Connie Velasquez, left, as she is reading her words, presents the flag to be burned to Gayle Walker first, who judges the flag needing to be retired. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Acting as Sergeant-at-Arms, Connie Velasquez, left, as she is reading her words, presents the flag to be burned to Gayle Walker first, who judges the flag needing to be retired. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion ... more

Image 8 of 21

Post 49 Commanding Officer John Moore, right, grabs some paperwork to head out to the flag service.the POW-MIA service. This table set up before him was part of the service for the men who have not yet come home from battles and conflicts. Each item has a significance to the missing men. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Post 49 Commanding Officer John Moore, right, grabs some paperwork to head out to the flag service.the POW-MIA service. This table set up before him was part of the service for the men who have not yet come ... more

Image 9 of 21

Acting as Sergeant-at-Arms, Connie Velasquez, left, reads her words over before the start of the ceremony as David Lewis, right, holds the flag that will be inspected by the post commander. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Acting as Sergeant-at-Arms, Connie Velasquez, left, reads her words over before the start of the ceremony as David Lewis, right, holds the flag that will be inspected by the post commander. The Lloyd Grubbs ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 10 of 21

Acting as Sergeant-at-Arms, Connie Velasquez, left, reads her words as she presents the flag to be burned to Post Commander John Moore, right, who also agrees it needs to be retired. David Lewis, middle, is standing next to her. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Acting as Sergeant-at-Arms, Connie Velasquez, left, reads her words as she presents the flag to be burned to Post Commander John Moore, right, who also agrees it needs to be retired. David Lewis, middle, is ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 11 of 21

The crowd watches as Acting as Sergeant-at-Arms, Connie Velasquez, reads her words and presents the flag to be burned to Post Commander John Moore, who also agrees it needs to be retired. Gayle Walker, left, reads more from the program. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The crowd watches as Acting as Sergeant-at-Arms, Connie Velasquez, reads her words and presents the flag to be burned to Post Commander John Moore, who also agrees it needs to be retired. Gayle Walker, left, ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 12 of 21

Jeffrey Collins, left, lights the flags using a fire starter after Post Commander John Moore decided they needed to be retired. Sergeant-at-Arms Connie Velasquez, right, and David Lewis, middle stand off to the side. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Jeffrey Collins, left, lights the flags using a fire starter after Post Commander John Moore decided they needed to be retired. Sergeant-at-Arms Connie Velasquez, right, and David Lewis, middle stand off to the ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 13 of 21

Commander John Moore, left, and others, watche as the flags begin to burn. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Commander John Moore, left, and others, watche as the flags begin to burn. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 14 of 21

The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 15 of 21

Acting as Sergeant-at-Arms, Connie Velasquez, left, salutes the flag to be burned after Post Commander John Moore, agreed it needs to be retired along with all the others. David Lewis, right, is standing next to her.The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Acting as Sergeant-at-Arms, Connie Velasquez, left, salutes the flag to be burned after Post Commander John Moore, agreed it needs to be retired along with all the others. David Lewis, right, is standing next ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 16 of 21

Jeffrey Collins, left, lights the flags using a fire starter after Post Commander John Moore decided they needed to be retired. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Jeffrey Collins, left, lights the flags using a fire starter after Post Commander John Moore decided they needed to be retired. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 17 of 21

Commander John Moore, middle, watches as the flags begin to burn. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Commander John Moore, middle, watches as the flags begin to burn. The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 18 of 21

The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 19 of 21

The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

Image 20 of 21

The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning each to ashes, then burying it. Each burial place is marked with a brick that says the year. The ceremony was open to the public. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

The Lloyd Grubbs American Legion Post 49 in Orange Texas held a POW-MIA Remembrance Service and a flag retirement Friday June for Flag Day. They take donated tattered American flags and retiring them by burning ... more